Drug shortages are reaching critical levels at hospitals in Georgia and across the nation. Georgia’s emergency medical providers recently sent a letter to the state’s public health commissioner warning that drug shortages are endangering patients. At a recent conference at Emory University in Atlanta doctors and lawyers grappled with how to solve the problem.

The Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Augusta is trying to contact 33 patients who got overlooked last year when the VA alerted thousands of people they might have exposed to infectious body fluids. Hospital director Rebecca Wiley said Wednesday the VA wants to test the patients for possible infections, though the risk is low.